The Origin of Groundhog Day

Updated on March 24, 2011

It's Actually the End of the Christmas Season

February second is Groundhog Day, a day on which winter weary residents of the northern climes look to a ground dwelling rodent to tell them whether spring is just around the corner or if they can expect six more dreary weeks of winter. How was it that our modern technological society came to rely on a little rodent weighing about ten pounds for weather information?

Among the ancients there was a belief that spring could be predicted by the emergence of hibernating animals from their winter sleep. Different peoples in different parts of the world each had their own animal that they believed could predict the emergence of spring. When these people emigrated to America they brought their customs and traditions with them. But their new homeland was not always the same as their old homeland and, over time, customs and traditions sometimes had to change to adapt to the new conditions.

Groundhog Day is Related to Candlemas

When Germans began migrating to the Pennsylvania frontier in the 1700s
they brought not only the ancient superstition about the emergence of a
hibernating animal being an indication of the immanent onset of spring
but also the tradition of Candlemas.

Candlemas, which falls on February second, is celebrated in various
parts of the Christian world as the end of the Christmas season as well
as, in the Catholic and Anglican traditions, the feast of the
purification of Mary and the feast of the presentation of Jesus in the
temple. Since Candlemas falls half way between the Winter Solstice
(first day of winter) and the Vernal Equinox (first day of spring) a
superstition arose that the weather on Candlemas would indicate whether
there would be an early spring or a late spring. Falling on the date
midway between the start of winter and the start of spring, Candlemas
was halfway through the winter.

A German Tradition Brought to Pennsylvania

The
belief arose that fair to good weather on Candlemas represented a
pause between storms and they could expect that the second half of
winter would be cold and stormy. However, if the weather was stormy
on Candlemas then winter had basically blown itself out and spring
would be early. Of course, the ancient superstition about hibernating
animals predicting the onset of spring and the belief that the
weather on Candlemas was a predictor of when spring would come
merged. Since sunshine is usually associated with good weather, the
belief emerged that if a hibernating animal emerged and saw its
shadow that was an indication that the weather was good and that six
more weeks of winter weather could be expected

In Germany, the
Germans had looked to the badger as the predictor of spring. But
badgers were not that common in Pennsylvania so the woodchuck, also
known as the groundhog, became the animal of choice. It was believed
that the groundhog would emerge from its hibernation on Candlemas,
February second, and if, upon emerging, it saw its shadow it would
return to its burrow and hibernate for another six weeks as the
winter blew itself out. However, if it did not see its shadow it
would conclude that winter was sufficiently over and begin foraging
for food and not return to hibernation until the next autumn.

According to the Pennsylvania Dutch Folklore Center at
Franklin and Marshall College in Pennsylvania, the first official
reference to Groundhog Day in the U.S. is an entry in the diary of
James Morris, a Morgantown, Pennsylvania store owner. The February 4,
1841 entry in Mr. Morris's diary commented that Candlemas had
occurred two days before on February 2nd and that, according to an
old custom among the Germans, if a groundhog emerging from his burrow
on that day saw his shadow it would immediately return to its burrow
and sleep for another six weeks while winter continued. If it didn't
see its shadow it would remain outside looking for food.

While
the belief that the arrival of spring could be predicted by the
groundhog and its shadow was widespread and old, it remained a simple
superstition shared by many until February 2, 1886 when the editor of
the Punxsutawney Spirit newspaper in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania
declared the town to be the site of the official Groundhog Day
prediction for the nation. In time the promotional efforts of the
Punxsutawney Spirit got the town and the celebration noticed and, by
the mid-twentieth century newspapers around the country were
reporting whether or not the groundhog in Punxsutawney saw his shadow
on February 2nd. However, until 1966 the actual viewing of the
groundhog emerging into the daylight was a secret affair attended
only by those associated with managing the event. But in 1966 it
became a public event that was broadcast around the nation.

Official 2007 Groundhog Day ForecastPhil Says Spring is Right Around the Corner! Phil's official forecast as read 2/2/07 at 7:28 a.m. at Gobbler's Knob: El Nino has caused high winds, heavy snow, ice and freezing temperatures in the west....

Candlemas – The End of the Christmas SeasonForty days after Christmas, on February 2nd, is Candlemas, final celebration of the Christmas and Epiphany holiday seasons. While not a secular holiday in the United States and Canada (outside of Quebec) it...

Five hundred years before Christopher Columbus discovered America, Vikings under the leadership of Lief Erikson landed in the New World. Today Lief Erikson is honored with a national holiday, October 9th, which occurs a...

With so many Americans traveling and working abroad to say nothing of meeting people via the Internet, it is not surprising that many are finding love and marrying someone from abroad. Here is how to legally bring your...

5 comments

Gassan 4 years ago

this is the first time i heard about this

AdamCairn 7 years ago from UK

I was born on Groundhog day but I never really knew anything about what it meant, but I loved the film with Bill Murray. Now I know, thanks!

Donna Jay Machale 9 years ago

You have one really awesome site, it gets right to the point and is one of the most clear, understandable articles I've ever read.

Chuck 9 years ago from Tucson, Arizona Author

Thanks for the comment. Yes, I have seen the movie "Groundhog Day" with Bill Murray and loved it.

livelonger 9 years ago from San Francisco

Great hub! Have you seen the movie "Groundhog Dog" with Bill Murray? Surprisingly good.